DISCLAIMER: I do not own Once Upon A Time or anything affiliated with it.
Even a man who is pure at heart, and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright ~Curt Siodmak
They said there was a beast among them. A creature as foul and wicked as the devil himself. Some even speculated that it was indeed the devil. They said it weighed close to half a ton, stood as tall as a pony, and had a course, thick fur coat the color of darkest night, and jowls so wide they could fit a grown man's head in them. It had killed well over one hundred people.
No one knew where the beast had come from or what had been done to incur its wrath. The only thing that was certain was that it liked to hunt at night, under cover of the full moon, when man is at his weakest, and the creatures of darkness are at their strongest. Only the bravest of the brave dare face the forest after sunset for it had become the realm of beasts...
Anita Lucas woke with a start that morning. She felt quite unsettled and was certain her dream was the cause of that unease, but upon pondering found that she couldn't recall what it was she had dreamed about. If she couldn't remember the dream, then perhaps she was placing too much stock in it. Still, that uneasy feeling lingered. Fortunately she didn't have the time to dwell on something as trivial as a nightmare. She had many things to do.
There was cleaning to be done, laundry to be washed, vegetables to be picked, cakes to be baked, and of course she couldn't forget about her dear old mother who lived alone and so far away on the other side of the forest. Her name was Eugenia Lucas. Word had reached Anita that she had fallen ill. She planned to visit her mother and deliver a basket full of goodies to see her through her illness.
With an easy smile, Anita went about her work, humming happily as she took solace in the familiarity of her daily rituals. She worked well into the afternoon, almost forgetting that today was the day her daughter would come to pay her a visit.
Ruby "Red" Lucas arrived shortly after late noon. She was dressed in her typical attire of black leather riding pants and a matching jerkin. Of course she wore her red riding hood that Eugenia had given her as a present. Her best friend, Snow White, was also dressed in similar clothing, the only difference being the color. Snow's leather suit was a more subdued tan color.
The three of them sat down and enjoyed a rich dinner while they gossiped amongst themselves.
It was well past evening when suddenly Anita paled and fell deathly silent. When Red asked her what was wrong, she informed her teenaged daughter of Granny's poor health and of the shameful fact that she'd forgotten to take her sickly mother a basket of food and medicine.
Red, who loved Granny Lucas as much as she loved her own mother, immediately offered to take the goodies.
Anita hesitated. The idea of sending her 19 year old daughter trekking through the forest in the middle of the night did not sit well with her.
However, the longer she stalled, the more shameful she felt. Granny Lucas could be in dire need of these supplies, and it was thanks to her own foolishness that the package had not been delivered. She agreed to let Red take the basket. Only if she promised to spend the night at her grandmother's. Her daughter agreed.
Red took the basket her mother had prepared with a promise to return early in the morning with news of Granny's condition. Snow White accompanied her all the way to the outskirts of the forest before parting ways. She absolutely refused to set foot in the forest after dark. When Red asked her why, she went off on an elaborate rant about 'The Beast of Sherwood.' Red laughed at her friend.
"The only beasts in that forests are bandits."
Snow looked appalled by her callous demeanor. "Even so, bandits are plenty of reason to steer clear. Why don't you just take that to Granny in the morning?"
"I'm a bit harder to scare than you, Snow. When have you seen proof of such a beast anyway?" She asked this because even though Snow looked fairly perturbed by the mention of bandits, she knew it was the supposed beast that had caused her friend to pale. "I'm going."
Snow shook her head. "You're a lot braver than me. I won't set foot in that forest. On the night of the full moon no less."
Red chuckled, the sound warm and friendly despite her teasing. "You're too superstitious. Very well, then. I should be on my way before it gets any later."
"Please be careful." Snow White pleaded.
Red winked. "Always." She waved her friend goodbye before continuing into the forest.
Snow watched her disappear into the forest, a lump forming in her throat as she turned away and headed back towards the village. She sent out a silent prayer for her dear friend, then hurried back to their shared home to lock the doors and bar the windows.
Please be safe, Red.
Red loved the forest. There was something magical about it, and she always felt at ease in the shelter of trees and thick foliage. The sound of birds chirping, the sight of rabbits scurrying along and squirrels at play always put an easy smile on her lips…
And yet she found herself distracted from the simple pleasures of the forest by dark, unbidden thoughts of beasts stalking weary, unsuspecting men as they traveled through the night. Tricked by the false sense of security that comes with knowing the trails, roads, and hidden paths of the forest. Snow White would say these men had become complacent, thinking that once they knew the forest well enough nothing could harm them. If there was indeed a beast lurking about, then it was no wonder it chose travelers as prey. They were easy pickings.
Red would not make the same mistake as them. She loved the forest dearly, and because of that love, she knew to respect it. As much as she enjoyed it and the freedom it afforded her, she knew what dangers were present. She would never be so foolish as to disregard her safety because of arrogance.
Why, then, had Snow's ramblings put her so ill at ease?
The first stretch of her journey, a grand distance of 4 miles, was rather uneventful. Red had taken the familiar path to and from Granny's for so long that it was practically second nature to venture it. She could find her way from Sherwood to Nottingham blind-folded, hog-tied, and stupid drunk.
It was the next 3 mile stretch that required her full, undivided attention.
The villagers had taken to calling this particular stretch of the path between Sherwood and Nottingham 'Neverland.' They called it that because the trees had grown so tall and large that they intertwined at their tops, effectively choking out every ray of sunshine. Nothing ever grew beneath the thick canopy because of that, and because no vegetation grew, virtually no life existed in this spot of woods. Never again would this place thrive. It was not a place for sunshine, flowers, and squirrels. This was the kind of place where one might expect to run into a witch or a demon.
Maybe even a beast of epic proportions. Like the Beast of Sherwood…
Dry, colorless leaves swirled on the gray, cracked ground. Lifeless branches like arthritic, knobby old limbs strained towards each other and formed a sort of tunnel. Beneath the awning of branches lay a well-worn path. Neverland was always deathly silent. The only exception was the eerie howling of the wind. The snap of twigs underfoot, the crunching of dead leaves.
Even for someone as experienced and acquainted with this part of the forest as Red, the lifeless silence made her feel edgy in a way it never had before.
A particularly strong gust of wind knocked her hood from her head. Red paused and gasped, quickly yanking it back up. Her heart pounded, and a lump grew in her throat as she glanced up from the ground to the bend in the path. She strained to see past the branches and shadows keeping her from a clear view of the trail but she kept moving despite the inconvenience.
Her pace grew urgent. Each stride was purposeful and deliberate. She hated to admit it even to herself, but Snow's crazy ranting had gotten the best of her. Her best friend's words had painted a vivid picture in her mind, and now her mind's eye felt the need to torment her with the image of a ten foot tall, thousand pound beast looming in the shadows.
Watching her. Stalking her.
As if her overactive imagination didn't make things bad enough, she was fairly certain that the food her mother had prepared for Granny was probably going to go bad by the time she got there.
All in all, Red's pleasant day was quickly becoming a nightmare.
CRACK!
Red froze, that archaic part of the brain known as the limbic system kicking in. It was part of the survival mechanism. Every trapped or endangered animal's first instinct is to freeze first, run away if at all possible, or prepare for a fight as a last resort.
Her heart began to beat erratically in her chest, her lips fell open but her lungs refused to take in a much needed breath. Her eyes widened as something stirred in the foliage ahead of her. Her own words came back to haunt her.
There are no birds or critters in Neverland. Only beasts. The beasts make themselves at home. They thrive where others cannot or will not.
"Shit," Red breathed, her voice painfully hoarse. She craned her neck, seeking out the source of the sound.
The forest was deadly still around her, as if it too were holding its breath in anticipation. Even the bitter wind, which had been her constant companion on this excursion, had died down. For an infinite moment all she heard was the sound of her own pounding heart as her mounting anxiety kicked the organ into overdrive.
And then…
CRACK!
Another twig snapped just off to her left. She jerked her head in that direction. She saw nothing. But that prickling sensation she'd felt since she entered Neverland was back; that creepy-crawly feeling in her skin. That 'I'm being watched' feeling.
Red tightened her hold on the basket of treats as she peered into the darkness. The utter lack of sunlight, the deep, impenetrable shadows were the perfect place to hide in wait.
Red panicked now. Her entire body was drenched in a cold sweat. Her grip on the basket slipped…
Just as the basket hit the ground, and its contents spilled, something lunged out of the forest.
All Red saw was a dark mass before it barreled into her side with the force of a horse-drawn run away carriage. The impact rocked her off her feet and simultaneously stole her breath, and the massive weight that settled on her chest prevented her from regaining it.
Red attempted to scramble out from underneath the oppressive weight. Her struggle was very short-lived. Her assailant roughly grabbed her wrists and pinned them at her sides, then squeezed her hips between rock-hard thighs as he—she—it straddled her.
"Don't…move."
The warning growl rumbled through the man's chest and into her body. She froze again. Red had never felt more terrified or helpless in her entire life. She had grown up a child of the forest, had more than her fair share of encounters with rowdy ruffians and wild animals. She'd emerged from the encounters unscathed for the most part. She was not some dainty damsel in distress that constantly needed saving. She could take care of herself.
But all of her experience went out the window in the presence of this man who'd snuck up on her and pinned her to the ground...
Her attacker leaned forward, and Red gasped. It was a man, but he might as well be an animal. His scraggly beard and curly, wired hair were devastatingly unkempt. He wore no shirt. His deep, barrel chest, covered with dirt and suspicious copper stains, was littered with scars and wounds in various stages of healing. Only his leather trousers remained fairly well kept. There was a wild light in his eyes as he brought his face closer.
Red gasped. Or she would have anyway. All that came out was a soft puff of air.
The wild man shifted on top of her, digging his sharp nails into the skin of her wrists. She flinched. He leaned forward, securing her with both his body and his unblinking, penetrating gaze. His eyes were so wild, so obviously telecasting the danger he presented.
"Little girls shouldn't roam the woods alone." He growled.
The clear warning in his words made Red snap.
"Help!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, renewing the struggle to unpin herself from underneath the crazed man. "Someone please hel—"
He slapped a rough hand over her mouth. Her eyes widened and filled with tears as she caught sight of his nails. They were filthy. And filed down. Sharpened to dangerous points. She had no doubt he could render flesh with those claws.
"I told you not to move." He snarled.
Red's body went limp with fear. She'd caught a glimpse of his teeth.
They, too, had been filed down.
She squeezed her eyes shut, and sent a silent goodbye to her mother and grandmother. She had just enough time to feel guilty about teasing Snow for being paranoid about the Beast of Sherwood. She had been right after all.
It crossed Red's mind that she was about to die.
I don't want to die. Not here. Not like this. But if I must, then I'm not going to take it lying down.
Just as she prepared herself to fight this crazed man with tooth and nail, his weight suddenly disappeared…
Red snapped upright and began scrambling backwards, her first instinct to get as far away as possible from where she'd been attacked. Her back slammed into a tree. She stared, dumbfounded, as two shadowy figures grunted and rolled around on the ground in the middle of the path. Her heart was beating so fast every breath felt like she was sucking it in through a straw. There was a sharp pain in the back of her head that throbbed in time with her heart beat. She absently probed it, and winced when her fingers came back bloodied. She must have hit herself on a rock when that guy—man—thing—whatever!—tackled her.
Her eyes remained glued to the scene in front of her; two unidentifiable figures wrestling for control of each other though she knew one of them was the man who attacked her.
I almost died, she thought. Her gut churned. A shot of bile rose up her throat. She rolled over onto her side and choked on a dry heave for several seconds.
It was long enough for the outcome of the fight to be determined.
"Are you okay, miss?"
She startled when a warm, feminine hand settled comfortingly on her shoulder. She whirled.
The fight was definitely over. The man lay in a heap on the ground, his face an unrecognizable, bloody mess. He didn't move.
Red stared at him with unblinking eyes, her brain struggling to catch up and make sense of everything that had just happened.
"He… He attacked me." She whispered.
"I wouldn't worry about him. He's not getting up any time soon."
Red forced her eyes away from the unconscious man towards the sound of the soothing voice. "He attacked me," She repeated dumbly. The shock was wearing in.
"Yes, he did, but you're okay now, sweetheart."
Red startled once again. This time at that accent. She really focused on the woman now.
Her dark, auburn hair was tied back in an intricate braid that left the bottom half of it loose and draped over her right shoulder. She had the kindest smile on her lips, and her eyes were the color of a cloudless summer sky. She wore a rust colored leather doublin over a cream colored blouse and a pair of matching leather pants. There was an emblem etched into the chest of the jerkin. Red recognized it as the royal seal.
"Are…are you the Sheriff?" She asked.
The woman looked both flattered and amused. "Not exactly. I'm the Constable. Belle French at your service."
Red's lips twitched as Belle curtsied. The Constable gave her shoulder a squeeze, then tilted her hand in offering.
"May I help you to your feet, my lady?" She sighed in relief when the stunned brunette accepted her hand. "And may I ask what your name is?" She helped the girl steady herself on her feet, but even when she looked stable, something compelled Belle to keep holding her hand.
"Ruby Lucas. Everyone calls me Red." Red said in a tight voice. She was trying to get back to her normal self but her hands were still shaking, her heart was still pounding, and she was still reeling from the fact that that man had caught her so completely off guard.
Belle could see the girl was still very much in shock. There was a glaze to what otherwise would have been a pair of striking grey eyes. She felt a little like she was looking into the eyes of a doll. Or someone dead.
A chill raced up her spine at that thought. She didn't know this girl, but the thought of her being hurt or dead did not sit well with her.
She did her best to get Ruby to focus on her and not what had happened.
"Ruby," Belle repeated with a smile, "What a lovely name."
Red managed to give the Constable a half-smile. She was finally starting to collect herself. She straightened up, using the tree she'd smacked into to support herself. She took a good look at the Constable.
Her mind was blown by the fact that a woman who stood almost a whole head shorter than herself managed to beat up and subdue a man who easily had a hundred pounds on her.
She was also stricken by her beauty… Red had never met or seen someone as beautiful as Constable Belle French.
And why am I still holding her hand?
Red realized this with a jolt. Her cheeks flushed as she adverted her gaze from the Constable. "You saved me." She said, feeling a bit awkward as she slipped her hand out of Belle's and crossed her arms over her chest.
Belle chuckled sheepishly. She reached up to rub the back of her neck. "It's my duty, my lady."
"Ruby… call me Ruby." Red insisted for reasons unknown.
Belle stole a glance at the tall woman, taking in her shimmering eyes and demure smile. "Ruby…"
"Alright! Where the hell is he, huh?!"
Red jumped as someone came crashing through the brush. It was a tall blonde woman, red-faced, narrow-eyed, panting, and wielding a sharp looking sword. Her head swiveled from side to side, blonde locks flapping haphazardly, as she took in the unconscious man's body lying next to a discarded basket and a pile of sweets. The confused look on her face was comical, but Red was suddenly overcome with the fear that the blonde might be a friend or ally of the unconscious man.
That scenario could not possibly end well…
"What the hell happened here?" The blonde roared.
Red flinched.
Belle rolled her eyes at the woman and reset her hand on Ruby's shoulder. "That's the Sheriff. Emma Swan." She informed her. Ruby visibly relaxed.
Belle strolled over to the unconscious man's side. She stubbed the toe of her boot into his side. "This is the so called Beast of Sherwood. I got to him just as he attacked this young woman."
Sheriff Emma Swan gaped, her eyes darting between the man and Belle. "Belle, this guy had a hundred fifty pounds on you easy."
Belle shrugged. "He was distracted." She said simply, as if taking down people almost twice her size were a common occurrence.
Emma, still looking rather stunned, went over to the man and poked him in the back with the tip of her sword. "Did you kill him?" She asked when she received not even a grunt in response.
Belle bristled. "Of course not! I just incapacitated him long enough for you to get here!"
Emma huffed. "Yeah, well, if you had waited like I—"
"There's no telling what would have happened if I'd waited." Belle interrupted with a pointed stare in Ruby's direction.
Emma followed her Constable's line of sight. She studied the tall, silent brunette leaning against the tree behind Belle. Her pale complexion and glassy eyes told her Belle's intervention hadn't come a moment too soon.
The Sheriff sighed as she removed a pair of iron shackles from her belt and made quick work of slapping them on the man's wrists. He stirred once, but remained unconscious. She patted down her pants as she stood up.
"Good job, Constable French. I'll make sure the Queen knows of your heroic actions here tonight."
Belle waved a dismissive hand. "Now that this is all settled, can I escort you home, Ms. Lucas?"
Red's eyes snapped to the side to meet Belle's. The Constable's enthusiastic smile was damn near infectious.
Too bad she didn't have too much to smile about. Not for long, anyway. Her eyes darted to the discarded basket lying on the ground, the goods scattered all around the Sheriff's feet.
"I was on my way to Nottingham to visit my Granny. She's been ill."
Emma grunted as she lugged the man to his feet. He was starting to come around. "That's not too far off." She looked pointedly at Belle. "Make sure she gets home safe, Constable."
Red bit her lip. The Constable had saved her life; she didn't want to make her go out of her way to get her home on top of it. "You see, I was on my way to deliver those goods, but they're ruined, so there's no point now. I'll just return home."
"And where do you live?" Belle inquired eagerly.
"In Sherwood."
Belle exchanged a look with Emma. Emma had known the brunette Constable for a long time now. She recognized the eagerness in her shining blue eyes.
She chuckled.
"That's a good five mile hike, Constable, but I'll leave the decision to go up to you."
"What about him?" Belle gestured at the stirring man.
Emma smirked. "Oh, don't worry. I've got him."
Belle grinned. "If you're sure."
"I'm sure. Now get going. I expect to see you for your shift tomorrow evening."
Belle faced Ruby and offered her hand once more. "Shall we?"
Red smiled despite herself and graciously took the Constable's hand.
They set off at a comfortable pace.
At first they traveled in silence, Red never questioning why the Constable had yet to release her hand. She was actually very thankful. She wasn't the type of girl to scare easily, but her run-in with that maniac was enough to make anyone edgy. The warmth of Constable French's hand in her own was comforting.
"You saved my life, and now I'm making you walk five miles through the forest to bring me home. You must think the worst of me."
"Not at all." Belle really was too kind. "What kind of Constable would I be if I let an injured girl walk home all alone after the ordeal she went through?"
Red's steps faltered slightly. "How did you—"
"You fingers are bloodied. I saw you touch your head." Belle explained.
Red glanced at her blood-encrusted fingertips. She'd forgotten all about that. "You're very observing."
Belle chuckled. Red grew flustered. The Constable was a tad strange. She was awfully friendly and chipper for someone that made a living fighting criminals.
And awfully beautiful. The thought, while not completely out of left field, did throw Red in for a bit of a loop. She had just met this woman. It wasn't right to be feeling the stirrings of attraction for someone she'd literally just met. She wasn't that kind of girl.
Then again, she'd never been the type of girl to be a damsel in distress in need of saving. Not until today.
They walked in silence for a few more minutes. Red took the opportunity to allow herself to enjoy their walk.
The forest was beautiful during the day but there was something truly magical about it at night. It took on a different life. It almost became another world. The forest, gorgeous and inviting and teaming with life during the day, became a dead man's tomb at night.
"Don't you just love the forest at night? It's so serene." Belle commented, breaking their bout of silence. Her smile, although slightly more subdued, was equally as disarming.
Red found the strange, alluring woman gazing up at the sky. There was still too much canopy to allow a proper, clear view, but a small break every couple of yards gave them a passing glance at the stars.
Red felt a new kind of chill penetrate her body.
"I do. It's… enchanting." She sighed, drawing Belle's concerned eyes. "Unfortunately, since the murders began, my mother doesn't let me roam at night anymore. Neither does my friend, Snow. They feared I might become a target of some beast or madman. I guess they were right."
Belle winced sympathetically. Ruby sounded so sad. So disappointed. "I don't think you'll have to worry about that anymore. We captured the man responsible."
Red recognized Belle's attempts to cheer her up and smiled. Who was this gorgeous woman, and why was she on a self-appointed mission to make her night better? Not that she minded. Red certainly didn't mind the Constable's attention. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't intrigued, flattered, and more than a little attracted to her.
She cleared her throat, realizing that she'd gone off into a spiel in her head, and that Belle was watching her intently.
"I thought the Beast of Sherwood was, well, you know, a beast?"
Belle hummed. "Some men are more predatory than beasts. This one had his nails and teeth filed and sharpened. I've no doubt in my mind he could have re-created an animal's kill. It was rather clever, really. All this time we were looking for an animal when really it was a man. You have to wonder what makes a person like that tick. What goes through their mind."
Red smirked at the undeniable passion in Constable Belle French's voice. She was very much in her element as she spoke about the psychology of such a crime and the logistics of it.
"I take it you're an intellectual?" Red teased after some time.
"I'm not sure if intellectual is the correct word to use here. I've traveled a lot. I've seen and heard many things. I also read a lot, so I know a lot." Belle concluded with a shrug and that easy going smile that never seemed to go away.
Red liked Constable French. With the brave, charming officer at her side, she didn't even notice that they had already made quick work of crossing Neverland. Red sucked in a deep breath then sighed in relief. Now that the danger of some beast lurking in the darkness had passed away, she felt the tension leave her body. She was finally relaxing, finally feeling at home once again. There was even a bit of a pep in her step, and her grip on Belle's hand tightened the slightest bit, prompting the Constable to grin.
"Tell me about yourself, Ruby."
Red grinned, exchanging an amused look with Belle.
"What do you want to know?"
Belle tilted her head to the side, never once losing eye contact as they continued to traverse the uneven ground. "Anything. Everything."
The tone of her voice and the light in her eyes made Red blush. Belle was truly interested in her. She was flattered, and more than a little smitten with her hero.
"Okay."
Sheriff Emma Swan grumbled under her breath as she made her way through the dark forest by torchlight. By the time she managed to rouse her prisoner and shove him into the horse-drawn cage, night had fallen completely. No one in their right mind liked to travel through Sherwood Forest at night, but Emma in particular hated it with the fiery passion of a thousand blazing suns.
As if things weren't bad enough, her damn Constable decided to run off with a pretty girl instead of back her up.
No, that's not fair. I gave her permission.
Sometimes Emma really hated herself…
"You have the wrong man."
Emma rolled her eyes. The prisoner had decided upon a tune and dance when he woke up, and he had stuck with it. He refused to give his name or explain why he had attacked that young woman. All he said was "You have the wrong man."
Emma cursed some more. Her damn horse, Henry, was acting a bit restless, stopping suddenly, refusing to budge, then tensing as if he were about to take off at a dead sprint. Like her, he preferred not to travel the forest at night.
Obviously, her horse had a better sense of self-preservation than all the people she'd encountered today. Including her Constable and that pretty, but dumb girl in the forest.
"Right, right. Of course I do. It's obvious that I have the wrong man because the Beast of Sherwood is a beast, not a man."
Silence. Then—
"It is a beast." The prisoner said quietly.
Emma snorted. All she wanted to do was get out of this forest, throw this idiot in the dungeon, and go home to her quarters in the Queen's castle. The Queen's personal maid, who had taken quite the shine to the Sheriff, might have even saved her a spot of dinner.
"So are you going to tell me where you've hidden all the bodies? If the records are correct, then you're responsible for more than a hundred deaths. We've only found a handful of bodies."
The prisoner was silent once again.
That was just fine with Emma.
She directed Henry through the familiar path that intersected in the middle of the forest. It was a crossroads, and from there one could go in one of four directions; west towards Sherwood, which is where Emma had come from. East towards Nottingham. North towards the kingdom's boundary. South towards the Queen's castle. Emma decided to head east. She'd leave the prisoner in Nottingham prison, then be on her merry way to the castle. The Sheriff of Nottingham could deal with the so-called beast.
"You're making a great mistake."
"So you've decided to talk again, have you? Are you going to tell me what I want to know?"
"I'll tell you what you need to know. The perpetrator of these crimes was not a man. It was a beast. A very foul, loathsome creature that stalks the forest at night."
"Goodness! Do you hear yourself? Do you really expect me to believe that a bear did all this? Your nails and teeth are sharp enough to cut through flesh, you look like you were raised by animals, and my Constable caught you attacking some poor innocent girl. What more proof do I need to have you hanged?"
Emma almost lost her cool when the prisoner went silent again. Then—
"I did not attack that girl."
That caused the Sheriff pause. She pulled on the reins, bringing Henry to a stop. The onyx stallion was not happy, and neighed his protest. Emma rubbed his neck soothingly, whispering sweet nothings into his ear before jumping off and stalking to the cage.
She could see the man clearly by torchlight. He looked wild, messy, and those pants had seen better days. Everything about him set warning bells off in her head.
But she had to admit that while he was obviously someone to be reckoned with, he didn't seem like the type to be a killer.
Did they ever?
Emma set her hands on her hips, her right hand resting on the hilt of her sword. The prisoner's aqua eyes followed the motion of her hand. He understood what her actions meant without her needing to explain it. His eyes snapped back to her face.
Emma suddenly felt uncertain.
"Let's say for argument's sake that I believe you. What were you doing stalking that girl."
"I am the Huntsman."
Emma frowned. "The Huntsman? As in the man that Queen Regina hired to hunt and kill the supposed Beast of Sherwood?"
"One and the same," The man nodded curtly, "And there is no 'supposed' about this beast. It is real. I've seen it."
Emma was losing her shit. "Damn it," She muttered, taking a step back from the cage. As if putting some physical distance between herself and the man might grant her some sort of saving grace.
She shoved her fingers through her messy hair. If this man was telling the truth, then she and Belle messed up big time. Regina is going to have my head for this. She shot a glare at the man. He was infuriatingly calm, looking at her with the patience of a trusty dog.
The story was that the Huntsman had been left in the forest as a babe, and had been taken in by a pack of wolves. The wolves had raised him until the age of thirteen when he wandered into a nearby village and was taken in by humans. He was never quite able to assimilate into human customs, so he ran away to live with the wolves instead.
They said he could communicate with the animals of the forest by mere gestures. Some even said he could control them.
Seeing this man now, Emma could see the animalistic qualities in him. It certainly made sense of his unruly appearance.
She sighed once more. "Why should I believe you?" She asked, even though she knew in her heart that she did. She had a sixth sense of sorts, and could tell when people were lying. This man was not lying.
The Huntsman, sensing he had broken through to the Sheriff, wrapped his hands around the bar and brought his face closer. His unblinking green eyes peered at the Sheriff.
"Because your friend is in grave danger."
Emma scowled. "Belle? She can take care of herself. It will take more than just a crazed man—"
"Aren't you listening to me? This is no man that is responsible."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Fine. Beast, bear, whatever."
"A werewolf."
Emma sputtered. "A what?" She scoffed. "You're kidding."
The Huntsman shook his head. "I assure you that I am not kidding. This is a land filled with sorcery and witchcraft. There are beast among us. They walk by day, they speak the human tongue. They wear human skin, and walk on human legs. But when the moon is full…"
As if compelled by some unseen force, Emma glanced up at the sky. A clear night sky, a bright, round, full moon hanging low on the horizon. A chill raced up her spine as she turned to regard the Huntsman.
He looked sincere.
"A werewolf?" She asked once more for clarification. He was right of course. This was a land filled with witchcraft and sorcery and magic. She'd seen trolls and dragons, Yaoguai and ogres. Was the idea of a werewolf all that far-fetched?
"I was tracking the beast when your friend attacked me…"
Those words sunk into Emma like stones in a pond. Her mouth dried up instantly, her heart lurched like a wild horse. "Are you saying…"
The Huntsman looked at her sympathetically. "We may already be too late."
Emma's world came crashing down...
They arrived to the edge of Sherwood Forest just as the moon reached its peak in the sky. The last two hours had been the most interesting of Red's life.
She had learned so much about Constable Belle French, and in turn, she had revealed parts of herself to the woman that she hadn't even shared with her best friend Snow White. There was just something about Belle that made her feel like she could share her heart's desire and not be judged or ridiculed for it.
Belle was an open book. She had no secrets worth keeping, and Red found herself immensely amused by her witty tales and quick, sharp tongue. She made her believe that the pen was truly mightier than the sword. Belle could spin a story like no other. Red liked that about her.
Among other things.
Belle stole a glance at the lovely young woman as she continued to speak animatedly about her Granny's amazing recipes. Her glossy, black hair rippled and bounced with every enthusiastic flourish of her gesturing hands. The contrast of her raven hair and blood red lips against her pale complexion were striking. Belle found that she couldn't keep her eyes off of her for more than a few seconds at a time.
Before she knew it, they had reached the end of their trip. Belle was confident that if they had not been attacked by this point then it was safe to assume they would be alright. Still, her heart lurched in anger when she thought about how close that man had come to hurting Ruby.
They came to the last clearing of the forest. It opened up for several yards then became enshrouded by greenery again for several yards before coming to an end at the edge of the village. Belle pulled Red to a stop just under the canopy.
Red fell silent as looked at the brunette expectantly. She flashed the beautiful woman a grateful smile. Not once had Belle released her hand throughout their trek. She had all but forgotten why she was scared in the first place.
"So…"
"So…"
Red was fairly certain Belle had taken a liking to her, and the thought made her insides twist. In a good way.
Belle gazed into Ruby's clear, grey eyes, her lips lilting as she did so. Red was very unique. In fact, she was the most unique person the Constable had met in a very long time.
"I know we just met, but I would like to see you again, Ruby. If I may." Belle confessed, her voice almost a purr.
Red's lips split in a wide smile. She couldn't even pretend to not be thrilled that Belle had an interest in her. Her dignity and pride suddenly mattered very little in light of this potential new… Adventure.
"Only if you answer me this question."
Belle nodded enthusiastically. "Anything."
"Why did you escort me home?"
The Constable frowned. For the first time since they'd met, she turned away from Red. "I'll be honest with you, Ruby. At first it was only because I wanted to protect you. I… I'm not sure if the man who attacked you is indeed the man responsible for the recent murders. I'm sorry for being insincere."
Red bit her lip to keep from smiling. She squeezed Belle's hand. "If you call that insincere, then so be it. I am not about to complain about the woman who walked me home through the forest simply because she was concerned about my well-being."
Belle looked up at her sharply, her bright blue eyes hopeful. "You're not mad?"
Red laughed. "No. But I have to ask, what makes you think that man is not the one responsible?"
"Call it a hunch." Belle said cheekily. Ruby chuckled at that. "Will you accompany me to a ball, then?"
Belle watched the brunette closely for a reaction to her question. Ruby's bright eyes, slight rush of color to her cheeks, and the way she bit her bottom lip nervously made the Constable's stomach uneasy in a good way. She was absolutely smitten by the impeccable beauty.
"I would love to."
Belle heaved a relieved sigh. Her reaction caused Ruby to chuckle. The sound was low and pleasant. It rolled through Ruby's chest and filled Belle with an inexplicable warmth. Everything about Ruby "Red" Lucas was enticing. It dawned on Belle that they had been staring into each other's eyes for some time now, but obviously neither of them felt compelled to move.
Eventually Red broke away first. Slowly. As if waking from a pleasant dream or breaking away from a trance. She gazed once more into Belle's sapphire eyes.
"I… I should be going. My mother is going to have my head when I tell her what happened."
Belle looked genuinely amused by that. "Best not resort to violence. You're in cahoots with the Constable now."
Red chuckled and shook her head. She took a step forward, out of the forest's shadow and into the clearing bathed in silver moonlight.
Belle gasped. Bathed in the moon's glow, Ruby was even more stunning than she'd ever imagined. The girl's beauty struck her as supernatural. It was powerful. Absolutely mesmerizing. Absolutely hypnotizing…
"Thank you again for the escort, Belle." Red turned to waved goodbye, but as she did so, she was suddenly overcome by a sense of dread.
It was as if some unseen force zapped all the warmth and strength from her body—a chill unlike any she'd ever felt before working its way up and down her spine and wrapping its icy fingers around her thrumming heart. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Her knees trembled as her legs threatened to give out underneath her. This was a fear unlike any Red had ever experienced before.
"Good night, Ruby Lucas." Belle's whisper carried on the wind. Red turned to look at her.
And that's when she realized the nature of her fear, or rather, its origin.
Her eyes widened in horror as Belle leaned forward, just enough for a sliver of moonlight to cut across her lovely face. Belle flashed her a wicked grin, her plumb lips parting to reveal her pearly whites. Pearly whites that lengthened and sharpened right before Red's eyes.
And those eyes. Belle's eyes were no longer blue. They were yellow. Flashing, predatory yellow eyes…
"I'll see you around, Red."
Red remained frozen, unable and unwilling to move, as Belle slipped back into the shadows of the forest and disappeared from her sight. Moments later she heard it. A terrifying sound that would haunt her for the rest of her life. However short that life might be.
It was the lone, savage howl of a wolf.
…And it was behind her.
FIN!
AN: Hey guys! Look who is back!
I know this first chapter wasn't anything to rave about, but PLEASE leave feedback where you see fit. I'm trying to get my mojo back, and suggestions/critiques are very welcome! Plus, come on; I'm trying to keep the gorgeous relationships that are RedBeauty and SwanQueen alive!
Cheers!